The quality of blast furnace coke is an important variable in the performance of blast furnaces in steel production. In many countries, the quality of blast furnace coke varies greatly and it is important for steel producers to be informed about the quality of coke in their country of operation. This paper will provide an overview of the quality of blast furnace coke in a selection of countries.
Australia
In Australia, there is a wide range of coke available for steel production, including coking coal, anthracite, nut coke, and other types of coke. Generally, the quality of the coke is good, with a high carbon content and low sulphur content. Australian coal and coke producers employ highly advanced technological systems which allows one to make a precise determination of the quality of the coke. Most of the coke in Australia is made from low-volatile coal, which produces a product that is relatively easy to handle and transport.
China
In China, the bulk of the blast furnace coke produced is derived from anthracite coal and low-volatile coal. Anthracite coal is high in carbon, with a low sulphur content, making it suitable for use as a high-quality fuel for blast furnaces. On the other hand, low-volatile coal produces coke with high reactivity, but with a lower content of fixed carbon. Chinese steel producers use a variety of different technologies for the manufacture of coke, such as crushing, heat treatment and resizing. In terms of the quality of coke, the results are satisfactory and the coke produced is of good quality.
India
The majority of the blast furnace coke in India is produced from coking coal. The coking coal used for the production of coke is of two different types: coking coal with low-volatile matter and coking coal with high-volatile matter. Coking coal with low-volatile matter produces coke with excellent reactivity, while coking coal with high-volatile matter produces coke with lower reactivity. In terms of quality, the coke produced in India is of good quality, and the steel producers in India use advanced technologies to ensure that the coke produced is of excellent quality.
South Africa
South African steel producers typically use a wide range of coke, including coking coal, anthracite, nut coke, and other types of coke. Coking coal is the most widely used type of coke for steel production in South Africa, with relatively high carbon content. Anthracite coke is also used for steel production in South Africa, and it is of good quality. The quality of nut coke is also reliable, with high carbon content and excellent strength. Generally, the quality of the coke in South Africa is good and South African steel producers use advanced technologies to guarantee the quality of the coke used in steel production.
Conclusion
It is clear that the quality of blast furnace coke varies greatly from country to country. In Australia, the quality of the coke is good, with a high carbon content and low sulphur content. In China, the coke produced is of good quality, and there is good technological control of the production process. In India, the coke produced is of good quality, and the steel producers employ advanced technologies to ensure that the coke produced is of excellent quality. And in South Africa, the quality of the coke is good, with excellent technological control of the production process. Thus, it is important for steel producers to be aware of the quality of the coke available in their country of operation, in order to ensure the highest levels of steel production.
